If there’s one group of artists that continues to inspire in their personal style, it’s musicians. From intricate onstage getups to effortlessly cool off-duty ensembles, we love referencing iconic crooners’ outfit choices on account of their unabashedly fearless and genuine approach to fashion. Whether male or female, elements of these legendary musicians’ style will forever hold timeless for the modern woman. Here, we round up 8 of said performers who continue to inspire us to infuse a bit of rock ‘n’ roll into our everyday guise.
David Bowie
From Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane and beyond, one thing holds true throughout all of David Bowie's eccentric personas—his costume choices are always downright epic. Stylish in all his iterations, we're particularly partial to moments that showcase David's knack for flamboyance—slinky jumpsuits, printed scarves, sharply shouldered blazers and statement boots perfectly embodied the spirit of glam-rock. His notorious penchant toward reinvention and transformation reminds us all that it's never too late to be who you want to be (sartorially or otherwise).
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Stevie Nicks
The poster child for free-spirited, gypsy-chic style, Stevie's seemingly endless collection of beautiful caftans and capes continues to keep our bohemian hearts aflutter. Always dressed in her signature garb of draped fabrics and accessorized down to the tiniest detail (a crescent moon pendant), the Fleetwood Mac front woman continually plays up her mystique via flowing on-stage getups.
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Jimi Hendrix
It doesn't get much cooler than rock god Jimi Hendrix—aside from his epic guitar-shredding skills, he always looked on-point in some kind of intricate, layered ensemble. A master at mixing prints (a skill that's arguably one of the more coveted fashion-minded masteries today), Jimi's penchant for silky, unbuttoned blouses, military-inspired jackets and uncontrived headscarves added to his unattainably cool vibe.
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Janis Joplin
From her incomparable raspy voice to her custom-painted Porsche, everything about Janis Joplin was downright groovy. The queen of the psychedelic scene often sported round sunnies, beaded string necklaces, flared pants with billowy blouses and fur hats to top it all off—a method approach to dressing that still resonates today (so much so that her family has created a clothing line, Made For Pearl, to honor her legacy).
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Mick Jagger
It's no secret we're huge Mick Jagger fans around these parts—his innate fashion sense is just one of the things we love about the legendary musician. Whether appearing every bit the English gentleman in a crisp white suit or dancing manically during a performance in a skintight, bedazzled onesie, Mick's ability to authentically own his look at all times is a testament to his confidence—and thus, his widespread appeal.
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Joni Mitchell
Folk goddess Joni Mitchell single-handedly makes a case for wanting to be the cool girl with the guitar. Ethereal on-stage and off, Joni's signature sleek bangs and floor-length caftans continue to inspire hippie-chic style today.
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Rod Stewart
From his time as lead singer for Faces to his solo career, Rod has always embodied true rock 'n' roll style. From silky pajama stripes to head-to-toe animal print suits, Rod relishes in standing out—an admirable approach to dressing that serves as a reminder to be fearless in taking sartorial risks.
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Emmylou Harris
Nashville darling Emmylou Harris' country-chic style is particularly relevant now thanks to the uptake of the Western-inspired trend. A certified denim darling, Emmylou's breezy caftans and fringed pieces also add to her low-key (but totally gorgeous) Americana appeal.
